GoFuckYourself.com - Adult Webmaster Forum - Kim Jong Il gets job as principle of a California School District?

Compare this...

http://www.auburnjournal.com/article...eyeliner08.txt

Quote:

Teen, mother fight E.V. Cain Middle School officials over use of eyeliner

By: Michelle Miller, Journal Staff Writer
Monday, February 7, 2005 11:45 PM PST

http://www.auburnjournal.com/content...eyeliner08.jpg
E.V. Cain Middle School student Kyle Love is wearing eyeliner to school with support from his mom, Belinda Love, despite school officials asking him to stop and issuing citations. Photo by Michael Kirby/ Auburn Journal

Fourteen-year-old Kyle Love's morning routine goes something like this: He gets out of bed at 7 a.m. and peels a black rock band T-shirt over his head. He brushes his teeth, puts gel in his hair, but then he puts something else on - eyeliner.

Kyle's decision two weeks ago to start rimming his eyes in a thick black line prompted officials at his E.V. Cain Middle School to ask the eighth-grader to stop, even though there are no dress code rules specifically prohibiting boys from wearing makeup.

Love first experimented with eyeliner last Halloween and found he kind of liked the look that's sported by many of the bands he listens to, such as Avenged Sevenfold and AFI.

His girlfriend gave him an old, black stubby pencil, a sharpener and a lesson in applying eyeliner.

Two weeks ago, he decided to wear it to school but checked the student handbook first. Kyle said he didn't want to get in trouble for breaking a school policy.

Kyle said E.V. Cain Principal Bill Van Nort pulled him out of his fifth period history class last week to ask him to stop wearing the eyeliner because it was distracting students.

Kyle also claims Van Nort made a reference that wearing eyeliner was "like being a cross-dresser," something Van Nort firmly denied.

"That was a big mistake on his part," said his mom, Belinda Love, who permits him wearing eyeliner. "He came pretty close to calling my son gay and stereotyping him."

Love is looking into the possibility of litigation if the issue is not settled to her satisfaction by Feb. 15.

School officials say boys using eyeliner falls under dress codes designed to eliminate unsafe, offensive or distracting attire.

"Staff members have indicated that it is a distraction within the classroom," he said. "The dress code doesn't say eye makeup is against policy, but it does say students should be dressed and groomed in good taste and anything disruptive to the educational process is inappropriate."

Van Nort said that a few male students wearing eyeliner are drawing stares and whispers during class, and cutting into teachers' instructional time.

He also reminded all students at an assembly Friday that repeated offenses could lead to suspension or expulsion.

Superintendent Vince Anaclerio agreed.

"Anything disruptive to the learning process should be taken care of if at all possible," he said. "That's what a disciplinary plan is all about - creating an orderly safe campus."

He said parents could file complaints with the district regarding discipline plans. Complaints are resolved at the school, with the school board or the courts if parents wish to pursue issues further. Love has not yet filed a complaint.

"Adolescents ... you were one once, so was I," Anaclerio said. "They like to test the limits of doing things."

The dress code prohibits specific items, such as dangling wallet chains and degrading clothing, but also has general guidelines that state: "Students should attend school dressed and groomed in good taste. Clothing should not disrupt the educational process in the classroom. Students who do not follow the dress code will be required to get a change of clothes that meet these requirements."

At E.V. Cain, the penalty for dress code violations is a 2-point citation.

Love said he's already racked up about three citations, which students must work off in before- or after-school detention. Each point is a ½ hour of detention.

The issue led Kyle to research the First Amendment on the Internet and write a letter to the editor of the Auburn Journal.

Love also feels her son is being singled out because he is not the "model" student. Kyle's grades were previously very poor, but have improved to include a few A's, a C and a D.

As for the distraction issue, Love believes there's far more distracting displays at school than Kyle's.

"I don't understand where this is coming from. Kids have hair dyed in all different colors with Mohawks," she said. "That's OK and eyeliner is not?"

Love doesn't like her son wearing eyeliner either, but respects his choice to do it. She remembers wearing bright blue eye shadow in her teen years that, in retrospect, was a little ridiculous.

"But you've got to let kids be their own person. It's a learning process, you grow up and you learn that's what you do," she said. "Everyone I've talked to agrees with him and admires him. A lot of people think kids don't have rights when they're going to school, but I'm standing by him because I feel he's right."

Other parents offer differing views.

"I don't think it should be allowed, it's not appropriate for this age," said parent Ann Reeves, who was picking up her 14-year-old daughter Monday at the school. "Dress codes need to be enforced more."

Many students know about the issue, including 13-year-old Evelyn Thais, who didn't think the boy's eyeliner was disturbing the school.

"That's a really difficult question to answer," said Evelyn's dad, Preston Lasley. "I think young people should be allowed to express themselves. I'm always torn, because I don't think it's right to tell anyone they can't wear something. If the parents are fine with it, I don't think it's an issue."

If school officials don't change their policy, Belinda Love says they may find themselves in court.

Van Nort told Kyle he could do whatever he wants outside of school, but Kyle maintains that he shouldn't have to be himself "only on weekends."

"I hope this leads to more people standing up for themselves, I'm disappointed a lot of people don't," Kyle said. "Everything would change if they did."
[/font]

To this...

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=461895